Warrington overcome half-time deficit to beat Wilmslow

Smarting from an 83-21 trouncing in the final match of last season, the visitors found themselves 23-12 behind at the break.

However, a second-half revival delighted coach Andy Roberts.

“This was a superb team effort, to come back after being behind at half time," he said.

“The foundation was laid by the forwards, both in attack and in defence, where Phil Lynch, especially, put in the tackles.

“But the points were score by the backs, who combined superbly, prompted by the excellent half back pairing of Ben Hockenhull and Tom Wood.

“Our next match is against Blackburn, who dominated South Lancs/Cheshire last term, so they will definitely have a point to prove.”

Warrington began by showing the sharpness which has been evident in all their pre-season games.

They could have gone ahead within five minutes when Tom Wood broke for the line but was prevented from delivering the final try-scoring pass.

However, the forwards went patiently through the phases in the Wilmslow 22 and eventually the ball flashed out to Steve Pilkington, who squeezed over in the corner.

Wilsmlow responded almost immediately when their busy inside centre was pulled down just short of the line but managed to slip the ball to the supporting back row who crossed.

The try was converted.

Warrington returned to the attack and a beautiful offload from Jamie Thompson saw Matt Connelly make good ground but play was then halted for 40 minutes after a Wilmslow player suffered a very bad leg fracture and could not be moved.

The game was restarted with a scrum on half-way and Warrington immediately went on the attack Within ten minutes, but Tom Wood, revelling in his stand-off role, made a telling break and floated a beautiful pass to Pilkington, who used the touchline well to squeeze in again in the corner.

Scrum half Ben Hockenull converted from the touchline.

Wilmslow then punished Warrington indiscipline by kicking two penalties to take the lead, although Warrington had been denied a third try when a superb cross field kick from Tom Wood was picked up by Nathan Beesley, who was forced to step into touch a yard out.

The home side then further increased their lead with a third penalty, before scoring a try out of the top drawer when their outside centre took a magnificent line to slice through the Warrington defence before handing on to his winger who touched down under the posts to allow an easy conversion.

However, one minute before the end of the first half, the Wilmslow open side prop was sin-binned for a high tackle and this proved to be the turning point – Warrington running up 21 points in 10 minutes.

First of all, Tom Wood put in a kick to the corner.

The ball was picked up by the Wilmslow left winger but the chasing pair of Nathan Beesley and Keiron Hughes managed to bundle him into touch.

The Warrington lineout, which performed superbly all afternoon, won yet another ball and set up a driving maul which saw Sean Callendar touch down.

Hockenhull converted.

From the restart, Luke Johnstone made good yards before handing on to his brother Elliot who put in yet another bullocking run.

From the breakdown, Keiron Hughes took up the running before handing onto the elusive Jamie Thompson, who finished a twenty yard run with a sweet offload to Matt Connolly who crossed between the posts.

Hockenhull converted.

Ten minutes later, Ben Hockenull, Warrington’s man-of-the match, broke from a set scrum and kicked ahead for before Nathan Beesley and the speedy winger won a foot race to score.

Warrington were totally dominant at this stage up front and their pressure was rewarded when Keiron Hughes waltzed over from a five yard scrum.

Wilmslow came back briefly when their inside centre bustled over but Warrington had the last word when Keiron Hughes stretched to intercept a wayward Wilmslow pass and pottered over to seal the victory in the last minute of the game.

A young seconds team were outmuscled in a 36-7 defeat at Wilmslow.

Ryan Preston scored their only try, converted by Luke Wood.

"We learnt some lessons and we’ll take them on board for next week’s fixture against Liverpool Collegiate," said coach Paul Thompson.

Warrington did get onto the scoreboard when Luke Wood fed a perfect short ball to Ryan Preston and the wing forward crashed through three tackles to score.

Luke Wood converted. However, Wilmslow had not finished and crossed the Warrington lime on two further occasions to end up 36-7 winners.

“We were just unable to compete up front,” added Thompson.

A depleted Warrington third team lost 43-1 at Christleton.

They travelled with 14 players and the home side’s extra man advantage proved just too great a hurdle to overcome.

Even so, Warrington scored first when the outstanding Jordan Rawes burst over from close range.

Danny Newens converted. Christleton soon came back with three forwards’ tries and turned round 19-7 ahead.

The match was done and dusted in the first 15 minutes of the second half, when Christleton added 24 points to their total.

But it was Warrington who had the last word, when Danny Newens broke through in the Christleton 22 and found Tom Hockenhull in support.

The scrum half touched down under the posts and then converted his try.

“We were really up against it today,” said coach Lee Graham.

“We were one man down and fielded a very young side.However, everybody got stuck in and with some more experienced players coming back, we are looking forward to Saturday’s fixture against local rivals, Winnington Park.”